Real Madrid will look to build on their opening-day victory when they welcome Real Sociedad to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Following a disappointing start to the new season, Real Sociedad will be eager to claim all three points when they hit the road to face Real Madrid. Taking down one of the title contenders in their backyard could be a massive boost for their squad as a whole.
The home team started their campaign with a hard-fought win over Espanyol. In Jose Mourinho’s first game back, the team in white did run the show, but they were not clinical enough in the final third, allowing the opposition to bounce back.
However, super-sub Carlos Espi came on and scored a late winner to give them all three points. Mourinho will be eyeing all three points against Sociedad, and he will hope his team gets the job done early this time around.
The visitors are hoping they can do much better than they did last season (10th-placed finish). However, they have not made an ideal start as they suffered a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Real Betis in their first game of the season.
La Real could not create enough chances despite having enough of the ball. They will have to take more risks and be braver in the final third if they are to take down Real Madrid, which at this point looks very unlikely for them. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
The team in white will remain without the services of a host of first-team players. While Aurelien Tchouameni is back in training, he is not yet ready to make his first appearance. Apart from the French international, Eder Militao (thigh), Ferland Mendy (ligament), Raul Asencio (muscle), Thiago Pitarch (knee), Endrick (muscle), and Rodrygo (cruciate ligament) are all unavailable.
Real Madrid will stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Thibaut Courtois will feature in goal. Mourinho is most likely to make just a solitary change to his XI, as Marc Cucurella is likely to get his first start for Real Madrid when they take on Real Sociedad.
The Spanish international will line up alongside alongside Denzel Dumfries as the full-back pairing. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate will continue to pair up with Dean Huijsen in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Bernardo Silva and Federico Valverde will form the double pivot in the centre of the park, with the duo tasked with providing defensive cover while also helping Real Madrid control possession and dictate the tempo.
Vinicius Junior and Arda Guler will continue to feature on the flanks; Jude Bellingham will take up the number ten role behind Kylian Mbappe, who will lead the line for Real Madrid against Real Sociedad on Wednesday night.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Dumfries, Konate, Huijsen, Cucurella; Valverde, Silva; Guler, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe
Real Sociedad
The visitors will be without the services of Goncalo Guedes (physical discomfort), Alvaro Odriozola (ligament), Jon Gorrotxategi (muscle), and Pablo Marin (muscle), with the quartet in the treatment room.
Real Sociedad will also line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alex Remiro starting between the sticks. Jon Aramburu and Sergio Gomez should continue as the full-backs, while Igor Zubeldia will partner up alongside Jon Martin in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Carlos Soler will line up along with Yangel Herrera in the centre of the park. The duo will have a lot of defending to do as they will look to protect the backline against a star-studded Real Madrid attack.
Takefusa Kubo is expected to feature on the right flank, while Ander Barrenetxea will take charge on the left. They will provide width to their attacks, while Luka Sucic will take up the number ten role in behind Orri Oskarsson, who will spearhead the Real Sociedad attack against Real Madrid.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Martin, Gomez; Soler, Herrera: Kubo, Sucic, Barrenetxea; Oskarsson
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have won 12 out of their last 15 home game against Real Sociedad.
- Only one team have found the back of the net in five of the last ten meetings between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad.
- In the last 35 meetings between the two teams, Los Blancos clearly have the upper hand with 25 wins. They have only lost five games against Sociedad.
- Earlier in the year, when Sociedad travelled to the Bernabeu, they lost 4-1.
- Real Sociedad last beat Real Madrid back in May 2023.
Player to Watch
Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe was Real Madrid’s standout performer last season, finishing with 42 goals and seven assists in 44 appearances. While it was an exceptional individual campaign, his efforts were not enough to help Los Blancos secure a major trophy. The French international did, however, carry his impressive form into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he finished as the tournament’s Golden Boot winner.
The 27-year-old will be hoping to produce similar numbers this season, but he endured a quiet outing against Espanyol. Mbappe will be eager to put that performance behind him and deliver a much-improved display at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Prediction
Real Madrid 2-0 Real Sociedad
Real Madrid should have enough quality to control this game, especially with home advantage and a Sociedad side that struggled to create clear-cut chances in their opener. Jose Mourinho’s men were not particularly clinical against Espanyol, but they have enough depth in attack to trouble a Sociedad defence.
Real Sociedad will likely look to stay compact and frustrate Real Madrid, but they will need to offer much more going forward if they are to get anything from the game. With Los Blancos’ midfield expected to control possession and their forwards capable of producing moments of individual brilliance, the hosts should secure another three points at the Bernabeu. The Hard Tackle predicts a comfortable 2-0 win for the team in white.